"Ministers and others strike at a shuttlecock above their heads inscribed 'Speakers Warrant'; among the feathers sits a little man holding a crowned staff; he says: "Curse this game I dont Like it I never experienced Such boning about in my life, I wonder when you will have done"; he is Colman the Serjeant-at-Arms. Eldon, in his Chancellor's wig and gown and holding the Purse of the Great Seal, is the centre of a close group; he says: "Dont knock it here we have not power to Strike it". Perceval, in back view, wears his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown and holds a document inscribed 'Majority'; he says: "Curse the thing I wish I had never Seen it away with it". A second judge whose head is partly visible behind Eldon is probably Ellenborough. On the right is Gibbs, holding a paper inscribed 'Attorn[ey Gen]eral'. He says: "D-n it Ill hit it as Hard as I can tho I'm almost afraid to meddle with it". There are two others in the group, one is silent, the other resembles Canning (not in the Ministry); he says: "Sure honey Right or wrong I always stick to the Strongest Side so do let me have a Slap at it". The sturdiest striker stands in back view on the left, with a paper inscribed 'Read Bow Street' projecting from his pocket; he says: "I cant Read it Die Veneris! why its Spanish to me we dont understand Them there warrants". On the extreme left stands the Speaker, Abbot, with a bat inscribed 'Double'; he says: "Dont Strike it to me again Ill have nothing more to do with it I've sent it to Bow Street". The bats used are not the usual long-handled battledores as (e.g.) in British Museum Satires No. 9716, but short-handled wooden bats. Above the design: 'NB The Feathers of the Shuttle Cock were pluked [sic] from a Sumersetshire Goose' [Lethbridge, see British Museum satires no. 11538]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
New game of shuttlecock as played by his Majesty's servants for the amusement of John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Watermark.
Publisher:
Pub. 22 Apl. 1810 by Fores, Picadilli [sic]
Subject (Name):
Colman, Francis John, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Gibbs, Vicary, Sir, 1751-1820, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Abbot, Charles, Baron Colchester, 1757-1829, and Lethbridge, Thomas Buckler, 1778-1849.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Badminton, and Games
"A 'conjuror' or magician displays to John Bull on a screen four scenes, one below the other, representing the expedition to Flushing. He wears a conical hat with a wide fur brim, and his magician's robe resembles that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, indicating Perceval; he holds a long staff or wand topped by a little head, that of Portland, grinning; it is labelled The Old One. John stoops to look through a telescope inscribed Patent directed at the screen, the vision on which is projected by a small dark-lantern held by Perceval. John is a yokel in a smock; beside him lies his cudgel inscribed Oak. He is highly delighted at what he sees, namely: [1] a fleet leaving England, tiny figures being indicated on the shore. [2] Ships bombarding and soldiers attacking a fortified town which is on fire. [3] The garrison of the town surrendering to British officers, with grenadiers drawn up at attention. A French officer holds out the keys of the town to Chatham, one of whose staff is in Highland uniform. Two tricolour flags are being laid down by fat Dutchmen in French uniforms. [4] British troops being landed from a man-of-war; wounded soldiers are being carried up the beach. John says: Zookers Measter Shewman that be a main foine sight sure enough, that will fright the Mounseers however Aye Aye they be at it. I think I can smell the Gonpowder, by Goles if they ha'nt done the Job! there's Mounseer and Mynheer on their Marrow-bones! but Dang it what have we got at the bottom here I be quite. Perceval interrupts: Stop! Stop! Mr Bull if you have got to the bottom of it I'll turn the Instrument for that part wont bear Magnyfieing. Canning (?), poorly characterized, as is Perceval, kneels (left), raising John's smock to take a money-bag from his pocket. He says: With your leave Johnny I'll take a little more money for the next shew of the Jubilee [see No. 11381]. A demon looks out from behind the curtain on which the 'Phantasmagoria' is projected; he laughs: He, He. The room is that of a quack, cf. No. 9611. A large crocodile is suspended from the roof, draped with a tricolour flag and labelled Caug [sic] in the Nile by Nelson [cf. No. 9250, &c.]. A bat (alive or stuffed) is also displayed. Perceval and John Bull stand within a circle surrounded by cabalistic signs and lit by a second dark-lantern which stands on the floor beside a celestial globe (left). Behind Canning and on the extreme left three small niches are recessed in the wall, one upon the other, in each of which is a skull; inscriptions: Conjuror Pitt (above), Katterfelto, and Conjuror Bute. They are: Curious Collection of Conjuros Capets [sic]. On a high shelf are documents: Way to raise the Wind; New Taxes; Proceedings in Spain and Portugal; Plan of an Expedition to Brobdignag; List of Killed and Wounded [torn]. A broadside is pinned to the wall. A soldier on two stumps for legs, supported on a crutch: Soldier Dick come from the War. On the ground (right) are two large bags filled with guineas inscribed Charmes. Beside them is a paper on which are circles and arrows."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Kings conjurors amusing John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Attributed to William Heath in the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1868,0808.7871., Text following title: They deal in destiny's dark counsels and sage opinions of the moon sells. Vide Hudibras., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Chatham, John Pitt, Earl of, 1756-1835, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805., Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Katterfelto, Gustavus, -1799., and Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792.
Subject (Topic):
Peninsular War, 1807-1814, John Bull (Symbolic character), Crocodiles, Curiosities & wonders, Dreaming, Magicians, Projectors, Robberies, and Ships
Leaf 30. Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Perceval, in back view, and in barrister's wig and gown, holds a magic lantern by which he displays the Pope in the guise of a ragged beggar, for the benefit of John Bull and the King. George III is seated on the throne and looks at the screen through a telescope held by Eldon, inscribed 'Ill-done's Patent Magnifying Papascope'. The King, much alarmed at what he sees, clutches the mace which Eldon holds, with the Purse of the Great Seal attached to it. Beside the King (right) stand a bishop in back view, and a man wearing academic cap and gown. Perceval' s lantern is inscribed 'Percev[al] Humbu[g]'. Canning stands in front of it; Castlereagh beside it, both pointing at John Bull, a yokel in a smock, who has fallen to the ground in terror at the lantern-display, guineas falling from his pocket. The figure on the screen is an old man with patched robes, two keys hanging from a girdle, a sack of 'Bulls' on his back. In place of his triple crown he wears three hats like a Jewish old clothes' man, and for a crosier he has a branching stick. Close to the screen and with his back to it, Portland sits on a block of stone (cf. British Museum Satires No. 10718), talking to Hawkesbury. On the stone is drawn a wig on a block with the inscription 'Retrospective View of Portland' [i.e. as a former Whig]. In the shadow, between and behind Canning and Castlereagh, stands Melville in Highland dress; on his sporran: 'Ex Privy' [Counsellor]. Three other figures are not characterized. In the foreground a dog, its collar inscribed 'John Bull', is biting the 'Union Bill 1800', where it is headed by an Irish harp; a fragment, with the Royal Arms, has been torn off. The dog befouls a 'Catholic Petition'. On the wall is a large playbill: 'Theatre Royal St Stephens By his Majesty's Servants Feby 1807 Horrid Tragedy of Raw Head and Bloody Bones in a Red Cloak Mesrs Percivall, Canning, H-b-y [Harrowby], Portland Castlereagh Wonderful Deceptions, Messrs Proteus & Ill-done.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? ...
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue., Four lines of verse in two columns below image: What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? A shadow thrown upon the wall, a magic-lanthorn-shew! that's all! Page 15., Artist identified as Samuel de Wilde in the British Museum catalogue., Plate from: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c. [London] : [Field & Tuer], [approximately 1868?], and On leaf 30 of: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Publisher:
Published by S. & H. Oddy, Oxford-Street, London and Field & Tuer
Subject (Name):
Restrike. For original issue of the plate, see no. 10962 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, and Harrowby, Dudley Ryder, Earl of, 1762-1847.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Projectors, Thrones, Telescopes, Ceremonial maces, Clergy, and Dogs
